Access port locator and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

A method of treating a host having an implanted subcutaneous access port, comprising using an access port locater configured to locate a subcutaneous access port located beneath a skin surface of a host.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/423,862 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,844) filed Feb. 3, 2017, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.62/291,761 filed Feb. 5, 2016 and U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/359,397 filed Jul. 7, 2016, the entire disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to medical devices, and more particularlyan access port locator.

BACKGROUND

Implanted subcutaneous access ports can be difficult to locate, isolate,grasp and target with needles during access, especially given the widevariety of port geometries in the market place. Problems that may occurduring access include accidental needle sticks of the clinician'sfingers, poor targeting resulting in a missed septum and/or puncturedcatheter. Additionally, the sealing quality of a port septum may becompromised by repeated access punctures in the same location, which canoccur with current access methods given the difficulty of visualizingand recording the repeated port needle access locations.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,419 to Lui et al. discloses a noninvasive,perforate, self-centering locator which facilitates engagement of aneedle or cannula with a subcutaneously implanted access port. Thelocator is exemplified by a port stabilizer ring having a centralopening. During use, the stabilizer ring is pressed on the skin over thesite of the port, and simultaneously visually locates the septum of theport for the user while stabilizing the port with respect to the skinand underlying tissues, permitting ready penetration of the skin andseptum by the needle or cannula.

However, Lui does not provide for protection of the user of the locatoragainst inadvertent sticks from the needle or cannula. Furthermore, thewide configuration of the ring of Lui makes it difficult to applysuitable pressure to the skin by the user to locate a port which may bedeeply implanted in subcutaneous tissue. Moreover, Lui does not provideany means for determining and/or avoiding prior penetration locations ofthe port septum with the needle or cannula, which could expedite septumfailure if the same penetration locations are used repeatedly.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a medical device comprising an accessport locater configured to locate a subcutaneous access port locatedbeneath a skin surface of a host, which may particularly provide forprotection of a user of the access port locator (e.g. a clinician)against inadvertent sticks from the needle or cannula, as well as aid indetermining and/or avoiding prior penetration locations of the portseptum with the needle or cannula.

In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a medicaldevice comprising an access port locater configured to locate asubcutaneous access port located beneath a skin surface of a host, withthe access port locator including at least one annular ring having firstand second opposing ends and a longitudinal access, the annular ringpositionable on the skin surface of the host with the first end of theannular ring in contact with the skin surface and the longitudinal axisof the annular ring substantially perpendicular to the skin surface; atleast one stabilizing flange configured to stabilize the access portlocater on the skin surface; and at least one needle guard configured toshield a hand of a user of the access port locator when the hand ispositioned on the stabilizing flange.

In at least one embodiment, a first end region at the first end of theannular ring forms an annular protrusion relative to the at least onestabilizing flange which is arranged to provide a pressure concentrationridge.

In at least one embodiment, the annular ring and the at least onestabilizing flange are arranged such that, when the at least onestabilizing flange is located on the skin surface, a first end region atthe first end of the annular ring forms an annular protrusion arrangedto press into the skin surface.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flange and theat least one needle guard are arranged such that a pocket is formedbetween the at least one stabilizing flange and the at least one needleguard to receive a digit of the hand of the user.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flange and theat least one needle guard are arranged such that, when the at least onestabilizing flange is located on the skin surface, the at least oneneedle guard overlies at least a portion of the at least one stabilizingflange.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one needle guard extends fromthe second end of the annular ring with an arcuate convex contour whichcurves away from the longitudinal axis of the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one needle guard configured toshield the hand of the user when the hand is positioned on the at leastone stabilizing flange comprises at least two needle guards to shieldthe hand of the user when the hand is positioned on the at least onestabilizing flange.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two needle guards are locatedon opposite sides of the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two needle guards aresubstantially identical.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flangeconfigured to stabilize the access port locater on the skin surfacefurther comprises at least two stabilizing flanges configured tostabilize the access port locater on the skin surface.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two stabilizing flanges arelocated on opposite sides of the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, a skin receiving gap is located between theat least two stabilizing flanges.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two stabilizing flanges areplanar.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two stabilizing flanges arelocated in a common plane.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two stabilizing flanges aresubstantially parallel.

In at least one embodiment, the at least two stabilizing flanges aresubstantially identical.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flange extendsoutwardly from the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flangeextending outwardly from the annular ring is substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal access of the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flangeextending outward from the annular ring diverges away from the at leastone needle guard as the at least one stabilizing flange extends outwardfrom the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one stabilizing flangeextending outwardly from the annular ring is angled towards a bottom endof the access port locator.

In at least one embodiment, the annular ring is a closed annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the annular ring is cylindrical.

In at least one embodiment, the annular protrusion is circular.

In at least one embodiment, the annular ring forms an aperture, and amembrane at least partially covers the aperture. The membrane may becoupled to the annular ring.

In at least one embodiment, the membrane is removably coupled to theannular ring by an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive.

In at least one embodiment, the membrane includes at least one indiciaindicative of and/or corresponding to one or more needle use locationsof the access port.

In at least one embodiment, the annular ring is a split annular ring andmay include a hinge.

In at least one embodiment, the access port locator is configured tomechanically engage with the subcutaneous access port, such as with aninterference which inhibits separation of the access port locator fromthe access port.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one annular ring comprises afirst annular ring and a second annular ring, and the membrane isretained between the first annular ring and the second annular ring. Thefirst and second annular rings may be arranged as inner and outerannular rings, respectively, or arranged as upper and lower annularrings, respectively.

FIGURES

The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure, and themanner of attaining them, will become more apparent and betterunderstood by reference to the following description of embodimentsdescribed herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top (plan) view of an access port locator according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an access port locator of FIG.1 taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a top (plan) view of an access port locator of FIG. 1 furtherincluding a split ring;

FIG. 4 is a top (plan) view of an access port locator of FIG. 1 furtherincluding a membrane extending over an aperture of an annular ring ofthe access port locator;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view of an access port locator of FIG.4 taken along line 5A-5A;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of an access port locatorincluding a membrane coupled to the annular ring;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view of an access port locatorincluding a membrane coupled between an inner annular ring and an outerannular ring;

FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional side view of an access port locatorincluding a membrane coupled between an upper annular ring and a lowerannular ring;

FIG. 6 is a top (plan) view of an access port locator of FIG. 4 with themembrane including at least one indicia indicative of and/orcorresponding to one or more needle use locations of the access port;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of another access port locatoraccording to the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another access port locator accordingto the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a side view of the access port locator of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a first bottom view of the access port locator of FIG. 8A;and

FIG. 8D is a second bottom view of the access port locator of FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It may be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention(s) herein may be capable of other embodimentsand of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, itmay be appreciated that the phraseology and terminology used herein isfor the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting assuch may be understood by one of skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown a medical device 100comprising a non-invasive, self-centering, access port locator 110engaging an implanted (subcutaneous) access port 200. The access portlocator 110 may be useable, particularly a medical clinician, tovisually locate the access port 200 when positioned within theskin/tissue 20 of a host 10, particularly beneath the skin surface 30.The access port locator 110 may also be used to retain the access port10 and stabilize it against lateral movement during insertion of atubular penetrating member 300 (e.g. needle) through the skin/tissue 20and to the access port 200. The access port locator 110 may be formed ofmetal or plastic composition, such as rigid injection moldedthermoplastic such as polypropylene.

The access port locator 110 includes an annular ring 120 having firstand second opposing ends 124 and 128, respectively, and a longitudinalaxis LA, which may also be understood as the longitudinal axis of theaccess port locator 110. While the annular ring 120 is shown as aclosed, cylindrical annular ring, the annular ring 120 may also be in aform of a substantially closed split ring, and may not be cylindrical.For example, as referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an annular ring 120as a split ring, with a split ring opening 122. As shown the split ringprovides at least 75% of the circumference of a closed ring, and moreparticularly at least 85% of the circumference of a closed ring, andmore particularly at least 95% of the circumference of a closed ring.The split ring 120 may also be a multi-piece configuration (as opposedto a single piece), with the side of the split ring 120 opposite thesplit ring opening 122 including a hinge 136 (e.g. spring-loaded pianohinge biased against opening of the ring 120) which allows rotation ofopposing split ring halves 138 a, 138 b to increase and decrease thesize of the split ring opening 122. When a needle 300 is introducedthrough the annular ring 120 and into host 10, a split ring 120 mayenable a clinician to remove the access port locator 110 laterallywithout disturbing or otherwise removing the needle 300.

As shown, when positioned on the skin surface 30 of host 10, the firstend 124 of the annular ring 120 is in contact with the skin surface 30and the longitudinal axis LA of the annular ring 120 is substantiallyperpendicular (transverse) to the skin surface 30. As such, the annularring 120 is further arranged with longitudinal length 126 between thefirst end 124 and second end 128 also substantially perpendicular(transverse) to the skin surface 30. As used herein, the longitudinalaxis LA of the annular ring 120 may be understood to be substantiallyperpendicular (transverse) to the skin surface 30 when the longitudinalaxis LA of the annular ring 120 is within 15 degrees of being perfectlyperpendicular at 90 degrees to the skin surface 30.

The access port locator 110 further includes at least one stabilizingflange 150 configured to stabilize the access port locater 110 on theskin surface 30. More particularly, as shown, at least two opposingplanar stabilizing flanges 150 (on opposite outer sides of the annularring 120 extend outwardly (laterally) from the annular ring 120substantially perpendicular (transverse) to the longitudinal access LAof the annular ring 120. Similarly, the at least two opposingstabilizing flanges 150 may be understood to be substantiallyperpendicular (transverse) to the longitudinal access LA of the annularring 120 when the stabilizing flanges 150 are within 15 degrees of beingperfectly perpendicular at 90 degrees to the longitudinal access LA ofthe annular ring 120. The at least two opposing stabilizing flanges 150may also be understood to be located in a common plane and substantiallyparallel to one another, as well as substantially identical mirrorimages.

The stabilizing flanges 150 are longitudinally off-set (axially spaced)from the first end 124 of annular ring 120, and intersect a medialregion 130 of the annular ring 120. As shown, a first end region 134 atthe first end 124 of the annular ring 120 forms an annular (circular)protrusion relative to the stabilizing flanges 150 which is arranged toprovide a pressure concentration ridge. In such manner, the annular ring120 and the stabilizing flanges 150 are arranged such that, when thestabilizing flanges 150 are located on the skin surface 30, the firstend region 124 at the first end 124 of the annular ring 120 will pressinto the skin surface 30, thus facilitating location, as well as lateralstabilization, of the access port 200. Furthermore, pressure placed onthe stabilizing flanges 150 by a hand of the clinician may beconcentrated in the first end region 134 to depress the skin/tissue 20and aid in location and lateral stabilization of the access port 200.

As shown by FIG. 2, skin receiving gaps 154 are located between thestabilizing flanges 150. When holding pressure is applied to thestabilizing flanges 150 and the skin/tissue 20 is depressed, theskin/tissue 20 between the stabilizing flanges 150 may rise above theplane of the stabilizing flanges 150 into the skin receiving gaps 154.In such manner, the skin/tissue 20 provides an anti-rotation mechanismto inhibit inadvertent rotation of the access port locator 110.

The access port locator 110 further includes at least one needle guard160 configured to shield a hand of the clinician when the hand ispositioned on a stabilizing flange 150. More particularly, as shown, atleast two opposing needle guards 160, which are substantially identicalmirror images, are arranged on opposite outer sides of the annular ring120. As best shown by FIG. 1, the needle guards 160 extend from thesecond end 128 of the annular ring 120 with an arcuate convex contourwhich curves away from the longitudinal axis LA of the annular ring 120.

To provide orientation, particularly relative to the longitudinal axisLA, with the arrangement of the access port locator 110 as shown in FIG.2, the needle guards 160 may be understood as being located at a topside 112 of the access port locator 100, while the portion of the accessport locator 110 which interacts with the host 10 may be understood tobe located at a bottom side of the access port locator 110. Furthermore,the split ring opening 122 may be understood to be located on a frontside, while the opposite side may be understood to be the rear side.

The stabilizing flanges 150 and needle guards 160 are arranged such thatpockets 148 are formed between the stabilizing flanges 150 and theneedle guards 160 to each receive one or more digits (e.g. thumb,forefinger, index finger) of the hand of the clinician. Moreparticularly, as best shown by FIG. 2, the stabilizing flanges 150 andneedle guards 160 are aligned radially outward from the annual ring 120such that, when the stabilizing flanges are located on the skin surface30, the needle guards overlie a substantial portion, if not all, of thestabilizing flanges 150. As shown by FIG. 2, the needle guards 160 areradially wider than the stabilizing flanges 150. In such manner, aclinician placing their hand, and more particularly digits thereof, onthe stabilizing flanges 150 to hold the access port locator 110 in placeis less apt to be subject to a needle stick from a needle 300 beinginserted into the access port 200 due to the needle guards 160 shieldingthe hand from above.

As shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, when the access port locator 110 is properlyseated and pressed on skin/tissue 20, the access port 200 and theoverlying skin/tissue may rise into and enter the center aperture 170defined by annular ring 120, to delineate the position of the accessport 200, and hold the access port 200 particularly from lateralmovement.

In certain embodiments the access port 200 may have an access port body210 body may be attracted to one another, particularly by magneticforce. In such regard, the access port 200 may have an access port body210 body particularly formed of a magnetic composition, such as amagnetic polymer composition, in which case the polymer composition maycomprise polymer (e.g. polyamide (nylon), polyphenylene sulfide) blendedwith a magnetic material (e.g. powder) such as ferrite,neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) and/or samarium cobalt (SmCo). In suchembodiments, the access port locator 100 may also be formed of samematerials and additionally have been formed into a permanent magnet. Theaccess port locator 100 may also be formed of a non-metallic magnet madefrom an organic polymer, such as PANiCNQ, which is a combination ofemeraldine-based polyaniline (PANi) and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ).Alternatively, the access port body 210 may be formed of a magnet, andthe access port locator 100 may be formed of a magnetic material. Alsoalternatively, the access port body 210 and the access port locator 100may each be permanent magnets having attracting (opposite) magneticpoles.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, a stretchable (elastomeric) membrane 180 maybe coupled to the annular ring 120 which at least partially or fullycovers the center aperture 170. Membrane 180 may be used to inhibitblood or other bodily fluid splatter from arising during insertion orremoval of a needle 300 through skin/tissue 20 and into access port 200.Membrane 180 may also include an anti-microbial coating or impregnationor layer that resists infection from foreign bodies entering thepuncture site or migrating deeper from the skin 20. The membrane 180 maybe temporarily adhesively bonded to the annular ring 120 with a pressuresensitive (tacky) adhesive which allows the membrane 180 to be peeledaway or otherwise removed from the annular ring 120. After penetrationof the membrane 170 by a needle 300, in a case where the annular ring120 is a split ring, the membrane 180 may be unpeeled from the annularring 120, and the access port locator 110 subsequently removed from thetreatment site while the needle 300 is still inserted in the patient.The membrane 170 may then be adhesively bonded to the host 10 with apressure sensitive adhesive located on the skin surface facing side ofthe membrane 170. In such regard, the membrane 170 may provide atemporary bandage after the needle 300 is withdrawn.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, there are shown various configurations tocouple the membrane 180 to the remainder of the access port locator 110.In FIG. 5B, the membrane 180 may be adhesively coupled to the first end124 of the annular ring 120, particularly with a pressure sensitiveadhesive or other adhesive on the side of the membrane facing away fromthe skin surface 30. Membrane 180 may also be permanently bonded to thefirst end 124 of the annular ring 120 such, such as by being weldedthereto.

In FIG. 5C, annular ring 120 may further comprise an inner annular ring120 a and an outer annular ring 120 b, with the membrane 180 beingcaptured (e.g. friction (interference) fit, pinched or otherwisecompressed) between the two concentric annular rings 120 a, 120 b.Membrane 180 may be permanently coupled between the two annular rings120 a, 120 b or removeably coupled between the two annular rings 120 a,120 b, depending on the strength of the friction fit. The inner ring 120a may be press fit within outer ring 120 b, or the rings 120, 120 b maybe welded together a weld location 152.

In FIG. 5D, annular ring 120 may further comprise an upper annular ring120 c and a lower annular ring 120 d, with the membrane 180 beingcaptured (e.g. friction (interference) fit, pinched or otherwisecompressed) between the two annular rings 120 c, 120 d. Membrane 180 maybe permanently coupled between the two annular rings 120 c, 120 d orremoveably coupled between the two annular rings 120 c, 120 d, dependingon the strength of the friction fit. As shown, the lower ring 120 d mayinclude a plurality of posts 156 which extend through apertures 182formed in membrane 180 and engage in post receptacles 158 formed on theupper ring 120 c to positively mechanically engage with the membrane180.

As shown in FIG. 6, the membrane 180 may include a septum locator 190(e.g. bullseye ring target area) to locate a septum 220, including thesize and shape (geometry), within the access port body 210 of the accessport, and/or an indicia 192 indicative of and/or corresponding to one ormore needle use locations of the access port 200. The septum locator 190and/or the indicia 192 may be printed or embossed on the membrane 180.

The septum locator 190/indicia 192 may comprise a depiction or image ofthe underlying port 200 to assist in visualizing the underlying port 200in both size, shape, target area and geometry. This image could beindexed via the positioning of the annular ring 120 relative to theshape of the access port body 210. The image may also serve to visualizethe location of the needle stick relative to the septum 210, which aidsin recording the stick location so that site access variation can bemore accurate and effective. As shown in FIG. 6, a puncture locationgrid or circles or other visual aids are printed along with the accessport image to locate and identify the septum puncture location via anumbering system that identifies the needle stick region.

The diameter of the annular ring 120, which is significantly larger thanthe underlying port 200, also allows for fixation and grasping welloutside the port perimeter such that it reduces the risk of needlesticks by widening the proximity of the clinician's fingers to theneedle target area.

While shown as being perfectly circular with a constant diameter, theannular ring 120 of the access port locator 110 may have differentshapes and sizes to access the various port sizes and shapes that existin the market place. In some designs, the annular ring 120 of the accessport locator 110 may match an outer shape of the access port body 210.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown the access port locator 110 ofFIG. 3 further including at least one coupling engagement member 140 topositively mechanically couple with access port 200. As shown, thecoupling engagement member 140 is in the form of a circular protrusionlip, which extends inwardly (laterally) from the annular ring 120substantially perpendicular (transverse) to the longitudinal access LAof the annular ring 120. The coupling engagement member 140 may beunderstood to be substantially perpendicular (transverse) to thelongitudinal access LA of the annular ring 120 when the couplingengagement member 140 is within 15 degrees of being perfectlyperpendicular at 90 degrees to the longitudinal access LA of the annularring 120. The coupling engagement member 140 may also be in a commonplane and substantially parallel to the stabilizing flanges 150.

As shown in FIG. 7, the access port 200 further comprises at least onecoupling engagement member 230 to form a mating positive mechanicalengagement with coupling member 140 of access port locator 110. As showncoupling member 230 is in the form of a circular recess which extendsaround the longitudinal axis LA of the access port 200. As shown, thecircular recess may be formed in the access port body 210 and/or theaccess port septum 220.

During use of the access port locator 110 of FIG. 7, the diameter ofring aperture 170 of the split annular ring 120 may first be increasedby opening/expanding the split annular ring 120 via hinge 136 (see FIG.3). The ring aperture 170 of the split annular ring 120 may be openedsuch that the inner edge 142 of the coupling member 140 will pass overthe engagement shoulder 232 of the access port 200 when the access portlocator 110 is pressed onto the skin/tissue 20, causing the skin/tissue20, as well as the underlying access port 200 to enter ring aperture170.

Thereafter, once the coupling engagement member 140 of the access portlocator 110 (shown as the circular protrusion lip) is laterally alignedwith coupling engagement member 140 of the access port 200 (shown as thecircular recess to receive the circular protrusion lip) the ringaperture 170 of the split annular ring 120 may be closed/contracted suchthat at least a portion of the coupling engagement member 140 enterscoupling engagement member 230 of the access port 200 (along withskin/tissue 20 located therebetween). As set forth herein, opening ofhinge 136 may be biased by a spring, in which case closing of the hinge136 may be performed by the bias force of the spring.

Once a portion of the coupling engagement member 140 of the access portlocator 110 enters the coupling engagement member 230 of the access port200, the access port locator 110 and the access port 200 are inhibitedfrom separation along the longitudinal axis LA by the mechanicalinterference of the portion of the coupling engagement member 140 of theaccess port locator 110 within the coupling engagement member 230 of theaccess port 200 contacting against engagement shoulder 232 of the accessport 200. Furthermore, the access port locator 110 and the access port200 may be habited from axial separation by the compression/interferenceof the skin/tissue 20 between the coupling engagement member 140 of theaccess port locator 110 and the coupling engagement member 230 of theaccess port 200.

In the foregoing manner, once the access port locator 110 is positivelymechanically coupled to the access port 200, it may be possible for aclinician to remove their hand from the access port locator 110 withoutthe access port locator 110 losing a grasp of the access port 200 andthe location of the access port 200. In order to remove the access portlocator 110, the diameter of ring aperture 170 of the split annular ring120 may be increased again by opening/expanding the split annular ring120 via hinge 136.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8D, there is shown another embodiment of an accessport locator 110 according to the present disclosure. As shown, thestabilizing flanges 150 diverge away from the needle guards 160 as thestabilizing flanges extend away from the annular ring 120. Moreparticularly, the stabilizing flanges are shown at an acute angle A of60-85 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis LA and towards the first(bottom) end 124 of the access port locator 110, particularly annularring 120, and skin surface 30, particularly for better skin gripping.Also, the split ring provides 75% to 90% of the circumference of aclosed annular ring 120.

Also as shown, rather than the stabilizing flanges 150 and the needleguards 160 being equally (symmetrically) spaced around the longitudinalaxis LA and annular ring 120 relative to the front side 116 and rearside 118 of the access port locator 110, the stabilizing flanges 150 andthe needle guards 160 are closer towards the rear side 118 of the accessport locator 110 and the front side 116 of the access port locator 110.In such manner, the stabilizing flanges 150 and the needle guards 160may fit better in the V-shaped spaced formed between the index andmiddle digits (fingers) of a clinician.

As shown by FIG. 8C, as indicated by small width of the rear needleguard gap 164 at the rear side 118 of the access port locator 110 ascompared to the larger width of the front needle guard gap 162 at thefront side 116 of the access port locator 110, the needle guards 160 arecloser together towards the rear side 118 of the access port locator 110than the front side 116 of the access port locator 110.

Similarly, as shown by FIG. 8D, as indicated by small width of the rearstabilizing flange gap 153 at the rear side 118 of the access portlocator 110 as compared to the larger width of the front stabilizing gap151 at the front side 116 of the access port locator 110, the stabilizerflanges 150 are closer together towards the rear side 118 of the accessport locator 110 than the front side 116 of the access port locator 110.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention(s) has beendescribed, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention(s) and the scope of the appended claims. The scope of theinvention(s) should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but instead should be determined with reference tothe appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.Furthermore, it should be understood that the appended claims do notnecessarily comprise the broadest scope of the invention(s) which theapplicant is entitled to claim, or the only manner(s) in which theinvention(s) may be claimed, or that all recited features are necessary.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   10 host-   20 skin/tissue-   30 skin surface-   100 medical device-   110 access port locator-   112 top side-   114 bottom side-   116 front side-   118 rear side-   120 annular ring-   120 a inner annular ring-   120 b outer annular ring-   122 split ring opening-   124 first end of annular ring-   126 ring length-   128 second end of annular ring-   130 medial region-   134 first end region-   136 hinge-   138 split ring halves 138 a, 138 b-   140 coupling engagement member-   142 inner edge of coupling member-   148 pocket-   150 stabilizing flange(s)-   151 front stabilizing flange gap-   152 welds-   153 rear stabilizing flange gap-   154 skin receiving gap-   156 post-   158 post receptacle-   160 needle guard-   162 front needle guard gap-   164 rear needle guard gap-   170 ring aperture-   180 membrane-   182 membrane apertures-   190 septum locator-   192 indicia-   200 access port-   210 access port body-   212 chamber-   220 access port septum-   230 coupling engagement member-   232 engagement shoulder-   300 tubular penetrating member/needle-   A angle-   LA longitudinal axis

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a host having an implantedsubcutaneous access port, comprising: using an access port locaterconfigured to locate a subcutaneous access port located beneath a skinsurface of a host, the access port locator including at least oneannular ring forming an aperture, the at least one annular ring having alongitudinal ring length disposed between first and second opposingends, the at least one annular ring positionable on the skin surface ofthe host with the first end of the at least one annular ring in contactwith the skin surface; at least one stabilizing flange configured tostabilize the access port locater on the skin surface, the at least onestabilizing flange extending laterally from the longitudinal ring lengthof the at least one annular ring; at least one needle guard configuredto shield a hand of a user of the access port locator when the hand ispositioned on the at least one stabilizing flange; a first end region atthe first end of the at least one annular ring forms an annularprotrusion relative to the at least one stabilizing flange which isarranged to provide a pressure concentration ridge to press into theskin surface; and the annular protrusion disposed adjacent the aperture;and positioning the access port locator on the skin surface of the hostwith the implanted subcutaneous access port disposed within the apertureof the access port locator and the first end of the at least one annularring in contact with the skin surface.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: stabilizing the access port locater on the skin surface withthe at least one stabilizing flange.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: shielding the hand of the user of the access port locatorwith the at least one needle guard when the hand is positioned on the atleast one stabilizing flange.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the atleast one stabilizing flange and the at least one needle guard arearranged such that a pocket is formed between the at least onestabilizing flange and the at least one needle guard; and placing adigit of the hand of the user in the pocket when the hand is positionedon the at least one stabilizing flange.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: pressing the access port locator into the host withthe annular protrusion providing a pressure concentration ridge.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: inserting a needle through theaperture of the access port locator into the host and into the implantedaccess port.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein: the access port locatorfurther comprises a membrane which at least partially covers theaperture; and inserting the needle through the aperture of the accessport locator into the host and into the implanted access port furthercomprises inserting the needle through the membrane.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein: the membrane is coupled to the at least one annularring.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the membrane is removablycoupled to the at least one annular ring by an adhesive.
 10. The methodof claim 7, wherein: the membrane includes at least one indiciaindicative of and/or corresponding to one or more needle accesslocations of the access port; and inserting the needle through themembrane further includes inserting the needle through the membraneusing the at least one indicia to locate an access location of theaccess port.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein: the at least onestabilizing flange and the at least one needle guard are arranged suchthat, when the at least one stabilizing flange is located on the skinsurface, the at least one needle guard overlies at least a portion ofthe at least one stabilizing flange.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein:the at least one needle guard configured to shield the hand of the userwhen the hand is positioned on the at least one stabilizing flangecomprises at least two needle guards to shield the hand of the user whenthe hand is positioned on the at least one stabilizing flange.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the at least one stabilizing flangeconfigured to stabilize the access port locater on the skin surfacefurther comprises at least two stabilizing flanges configured tostabilize the access port locater on the skin surface.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the at least one annular ring is a closed annularring.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein: the at least one annular ringis a split annular ring.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein: the annularprotrusion is circular.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein: the accessport locator is configured to mechanically engage with the subcutaneousaccess port.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the access portlocator is configured to mechanically engage with the subcutaneousaccess port with an interference which inhibits separation of the accessport locator from the access port.